Government of Newfoundland News

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will speak at the 2017 National Physical Education/Health Education Conference today (Thursday, May 4) at the Sheraton Hotel, St. John’s. The event is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report A-2017-012 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will make an announcement regarding vaccinations today (Thursday, May 4) at the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Place, 70 Ropewalk Lane, St. John's. The minister will be joined by Matthew Piercey, Executive Director of the Canadian Cancer Society, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Dr. David Allison, Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Colin Holloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will participate in an event to promote the 25th anniversary of MusicNL tomorrow (Thursday, May 4). The event begins at 11:00 a.m., at Fred’s Records, 198 Duckworth St., St. John’s.

Transportation and Works

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works:

Children, Seniors and Social Development

As part of the ongoing effort to improve programming and placement stability for children and youth in care, the Provincial Government is changing its approach to procuring the services of staffed residential out-of-home placements, moving to a program rather than the public tendering process that has been in place since 2014.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in this Honourable House to acknowledge the seven Tony Award nominations for ‘Come From Away’.

Transportation and Works

A pilot project to test the effectiveness of night time road construction will get underway this construction season with the award of a tender valued at $2.5 million to Concord Paving Ltd, Carbonear.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended a graduation ceremony for the Transitions to Work Pilot Program in Corner Brook and was inspired by the dedication and enthusiasm of the graduates.

Finance

In a report by the C.D Howe Institute this week that assesses the quality of various government’s financial information and their success or failure in achieving budgetary goals, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador scored a B grade for 2017 – up from an E grade in 2016 and a D grade in 2015. The report looks at the relevance, accessibility, timeliness and reliability of government’s financial reports across the country.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will participate in McDonald’s Canada’s 24th annual McHappy Day fundraising event tomorrow (Wednesday, May 3) at the McDonald’s restaurant, 54 Kenmount Road, St. John’s.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The public is cautioned that Universal Media is not affiliated in any manner with Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, nor is the company an agent or vendor of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation does not endorse their services.

Fisheries and Land Resources

The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, is seeking the public’s assistance regarding information relating to an incident where a black bear was allegedly illegally killed on or near December 3, 2016, between the areas of Orma Lake and Sail Lake (approximately 100-150 kilometres north of Churchill Falls).

Municipal Affairs and Environment

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to highlight an amendment to the Schedule of the Citizens’ Representative Act. This amendment will allow the Citizens’ Representative jurisdiction over regional service boards and ensure that residents, municipalities, and businesses have a mechanism to address concerns they may have with the boards.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind residents that forest fire season started yesterday on the island and will start in Labrador on May 15.

Service NL

Service NL has entered into a contract with Gemalto Canada Inc. for a new driver’s licence delivery system that will improve the security of personal information and enhance service delivery.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today announced the first successful applicants for funding through the federal-provincial Foreign Qualification Recognition Agreement, which will help newcomers secure employment in their fields.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to recognize today as the start of Mental Health Week in Newfoundland and Labrador, and across Canada.

Service NL

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to reflect on the National Day of Mourning, which was recently recognized on April 28, 2017.